Amid speculations, the Election comission of India has rejected the idea of Kashmir-based political parties to hold simultaneous lok sabha and assembly polls in the region.
The Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, unveiled the timetable for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections during a press briefing in New Delhi on Saturday.
The 2024 Lok Sabha election will take place over seven phases, starting on April 19 and concluding with the final phase on June 1. Counting of votes will occur on June 4.
In Jammu Kashmir, the elections will be held in separate phases for the five Lok Sabha seats. First, Udhampur will go to polls on 19 April, Jammu: 26 April, Anantnag – Rajouri: 7 May, Srinagar: 13 May and Baramulla: 26 May.
Pertinently, Jammu Kashmir has had no assembly elections since 2014, when BJP formed government with the People’s Democratic Party and pulled off from the coalition on June 19, 2018.
Among the states included in the Assembly election schedule, Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim will witness their electoral processes kick off simultaneously with the first phase of Lok Sabha voting on April 19th.
Meanwhile, Odisha will undergo its Assembly elections over two separate phases, scheduled for May 13th and May 20th, ensuring a comprehensive and efficient electoral process in the state..